Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

=. —— oe ne hee — Sere ae. ae a a a a =: 10 ‘** Ain’t you done all you can, miss?’ asked Electa, sorely troubled. ‘‘ You’ve told the sheriff. Come! let’s go home!” ** Not until Hubert Lawrence is safe!” ** But what can you do?” ** True—what can T do?” The girl pressed both hands to her brows. There was a deep, quick throbbing there, and the veins seemed dangerously filled with the life-fluid. She was greatly excited, and her own helplessness, beset as she was with blindness, was pitiful, ** Miss Alice, pray don’t think hard of me, bat I doubt—” **T have it!” cried the girl, with a sudden start. ‘‘English John! I didn’t think of him before.” **'W hat o’ him?” ‘He is just the man for the place. Heis thoroughly devoted to Hubert, and he will leave no stone unturned to save him, We will go to Englsh Jobn at once!” “But he lives over in the rough part o’ the town, an’—” ** Never mind! Lead on!” ** Miss Alice, remember the Reds! It is dan- erous—” ‘*EKlecta, there is a watchful Providence which has usin its keeping; I trust in that. Lead on! ““Tlldoas yesay, but may the Lord forgive me ef I do wrong.” The faithful attendant spoke in deep pertur- bation. Masculine as she wasin her ways, she would never have ventured to that part of the town where English Jobn lived under less press- ing circumstances. There was the dwelling- place of the ‘‘ Reds,” and fights were common occurrences. ‘*‘Shanty-town,” it was called, and only for Shanty-town, Ambrose White would have had but few men to arrest. Heavy, indeed, was, Electa’s heart as they walked on, but all her fears were for Alice. As far as she was personally concerned, sbe knew very little about fear, and if they were molested, the enemy would find that worthy Miss Parsons could strike equally well with tongue or hand. In her opinion one thing wassure to follow the mad venture. Abram Brackett would hear of it, and he would lose no time in decapitating Miss Electa Parsons’s official head. He surely would not forgive her for leading his daughter to Shanty-town, and inasbort time she would be free to look for other fields of usefulness. This idea flitted through her mind, but had no permanent lodging there. Aliceand her peril demanded all the faithful guardian’s time, and the latter kept close watch as they penetrated further and further into the lair of the Reds. scheme oirtce and darkness closed around em, CHAPTER XI. TO SAVE GARRY KEAN’S LIFE! ‘* AT last!” Alice breathed the words with a sigh of relief when Electa announced that they were at English John’s door. The dangers of Shanty- town had thus far been successfully met, though the adventuresome couple had several times nearly run upon wandering parties of Reds. Luckily, they did not have to make any vy ries. English John was well known, and his a aghe cme in hoisting an American flag over is shanty had made that building equally famous. Electa’s knock was followed by his voice, bluffly bidding them enter. They obeyed, but he looked amazed when he saw who was there. Never since he flung the Star-Spangled ne aca to the breeze had he had such company ore. He rose to his feet and blankly muttered: ‘** By St. George!” He was given but little time to satisfy his sur- prise. Once sure that he was found, Alice began and poured out her story rapidly, excitedly, yet coherently. She had no need to ask English John if he would actin the case; she knew she could depend upon him; and her her only thought was to tell the story as soon as possible. The big miner did notinterrupt. He listened; he drank in every word; and the play of his features was an answer'in itself. Surprise, in- dignation, alarm and anger were there express- ed, and his nervously-working hands instinct- ively sought his weapons. e was like a warrior roused to action. When all was told he brought his hands forci- bly together. if It work o’ Nate Bradley!” he ex- t’s the claimed. ** How do you know?” Alice asked. Her lack of sight caused her to lose the pecu- liar cep es which crossed John’s face, and his reply revealed but little. . “Wal, he’s mean enough for it, an’ he’s the leader 0’ the Reds.” **Can’t you do something, sir—” “Oan’t I? Wal, I should remark! I kin knock the stuffin’ out o’ the man who waltzes up ter the jail with lawless thoughts in his mind.” ** You cannot drive them off alone.” ‘* Sha’n’t try. Nate Bradley is a double-bar- reled gun among the Reds, but I thank good- criminally refused to do, es a Pa , ’ i) = . i? -* Garry Kean. ness, all the folks at Jack’s Delight ain’t toughs an’ Reds. I kin git a dozen honest miners ter- gether in ten minutes; men who know weepons as they do the picks they wield up in thegulches; an’ they’ve got the sand nec’sary ter face the inemy, you bet!” ‘* May Heaven bless you, and your undertak- ing!” Alice murmured, tremulously. ‘*T wouldn’t ask for a prayer from better sources. Ef the Master o’ Life don’t heed you, He wouldn’t heed nobody. Rest easy, little woman; Garry Kean shall be saved. It can’t be done with idle talk, thougb. Go you home, ladies, an’ I'll gather my battle-pards!” The sturdy miner had been making prepara- tions while he spoke, and was ready for action, Threatening as the situation was, be did not forget to bow his visitors out with grace wor- thy of a Macready, a Kean, or a Garrick, but once outside he left them to care for themselves, It did not then occur to him that they had a dangerous road along which to retrace their steps, and his forgetfulness was, perhaps, excus- able, for Garry’s danger had stirred him up more than he was willing to reveal. He hurried away. Alice breathed a sigh of relief, but Electa pru- dently reserved her demonstration in that line until such time as they had passed the purlieus of Shanty-town. They lost no time in commencing the retreat. Electa had considered themselves very fortunate in having reacbed English John’s shanty with- out encountering any one, and so they were. Usually the journey could not have been made without running upon wandering Reds. There was only one practical way of accounting for their good luck, and that was, that the roughs were busy with plans for their contemplated riot. Despite the good woman’s fear, good luck did not desert them then. With quick steps they threaded the devious paths among the huts, and Shanty-town was safely left behind. Then Electa uttered her postponed sigh of re- lief. ‘* Where are we now?” Alice asked, ‘* Near Nugget Hill.” ‘‘T thought so. We will go to its top,” “Go where?” ‘** To the top of the hill.” ‘* Land o’ love! What for?” ‘* To see the rasult of the riot.” ‘* Oh, Miss Alice, you don’t mean it—you can’t mean it!” ‘Why not?” ** Do you know what time it is?” ‘The hour is growing late—” **'Yes, an’ you ought ter be at home. What would the judge say?” ‘*T trust that my good father would say that human life is sacred. My kind friend, do not oppose me in this, I cannot go home and rest easy with this suspense upon me. The rioters will attack the jail, and English John and his friends will try to do what Sheriff White has There will be fight- ing; Hubert Lawrence will be indanger; I must know the result!” Alice spoke with feverish rapidity, showing what a nervous condition she was in, and Electa uttered a dolorous sound which no spirit of gal- lantry to ber sex could lead to its classification as anything but a groan. ‘* My poor lamb!” she added, dismally ‘Why do you say that?” ** Miss Alice, you hey done your duty; you hev been a heroine who puts Joan Dorsey, Zenoby an’—an’ the rest o’ them women—ter the blush. Be satisfied now; go home; an’ trust the rest ter the good Lord who watches over us feeble mortal critters. Nugget Hill ain’t a safe place fur you; it is wild, rocky, dark and lone- some,” ‘** Electa, there will be dangerous men nowhere but at the jail to-night. I have no fear; lead me to the top of the hill!” Miss Parsons groaned again; but—yielded. She knew the folly of remonstrance. The Brackett will was aroused, and in that resist- less current Electa was as helpless as a floating cork, She really had less fear of Nugget Hill than her words indicated, but she knew that Alice ought to be at home, and was well aware that if Abram Brackett knew of the affair there would be a storm. Carefully guiding her companion’s steps, she led the.way to the top of the hill. It was not high, but a fine view of the whole town was to be had, and it was admirably suited to their purpose, They waited and watched. Minutes passed. The interval seemed almost a generation to Electa, but, in point of fact, just about an hour had elapsed when the first sign came from the quarter of interest. It was sudden in the extreme. _ Possibly there had been conversation at the jail; a de- mand for the surrender of the Man with Back- bone, and a refusal; but none of these things were heard by the watchers, nor did they see aes until a single sbot sounded plainly. lice gave a nervous start. ‘* They’re at it!” muttered Electa, “Ts it at the jail?” **’Yes; I seen the flash,” eee ee « 2* e "ey, | ee EEE ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GT They were interrupted. Another shot sound- ed, and, close after it, an irregular volley. ‘*May Heaven protect him /” Alice breathed. Electa had been arousing like the ‘‘ Joan Dor- sey” she had mentioned. There wasa good deal of martial spirit in Electa’s nature, and though she might not shine in history like Joan of Arc, she could not see such a scene unmoved. “It’s a reg’lar battle o’ Waterwool!” she de- clared. ** What do you see, Electa?” ‘What do [ see? I see the flash of fire-arms; I see what looks Jike like a hundred big fire- bugs. Now they flame up; now they go out, It’s excitin’--it is, | vam! Ive always wanted ter see a battle, an’ they’re at it. See the report o’ the guns!—no; I mean, hear the reports!” ‘* Have they really attacked the jail?” ‘‘They hev, sure as you live!” Alice stood with clasped hands. She trembled with excitement; a great fear was upon her; the suspense was painful beyond expression; and she would have given all for the power of sight. 62 What are they doing? Tell me all that you see!’ : ‘‘The red tide o’ battle is on!” proclaimed Electa, flourishing both arms, ‘* The thunders o’ big guns is heerd, an’ the arth quakes with fear! There is wars an’ rumors 0’ wars, an’ the ocean is upheaved, an’ brother is pitted ag’in’ brother, but the lamb don’t lay down with the lion!” ‘‘Use no idle terms, Electa. Tell me what you really see!” 7 ‘The battle is at the gate o’ the jail. The mob has charged, but they’ve run up ag’in’ somethin’. They’re havin’ a desprit’ time, English Johnis there! I vum! I like that man! He reminds me o’ the crusaders who fit in the Holy War in Afrikay. The Reds hev met their match, Oh! don’t I wish I’s a man!” Wildly the speaker swung her arms, asthough to beat down some daring foe. She had nota word to say then about leaving Nugget Hill. ‘* But who is winning the battle? anxiously demanded Alice, ‘* English John an’ his warriors stands like the rock o’ Gibbyraltar. The Reds fight like sin, but I don’t see as they gain a foot. English John is there! You don’t hear so much shoot- in’ now. Ireckon it is hand-ter-hand, as Her- manirus, Specious Lartius an’ them other Ro- mans defended the bridge over the fiber. I ain’t a-bettin’ man, or I’d take a resk o’ five dol- lars that the Reds gits left!” ‘* The firing has stopped. What doesit mean? What—” ‘*Tt means vict’ry! Hurrah fur the ’Merican eagle an’ English John! The battle is over. There is no more sounds o’ shootin’, no flashes, no yells, no strugglin’ at the gates! I sha’n’t forgit this night ef I live ter be as old as Joh—I mean Methuselah. The riot is deader’n a door-nail, by sixty!” **Oh! Electa, are you sure?” ‘* Ain’t got an artom o’ doubt.” ‘‘ Thank Heaven!” The broken exclamation was so fraught with emotion that Electa was suddenly recalled to practical life. She forgot her aspirations to be a warrior, and, turning, caught Alice in her strong arms. ‘* My poor lamb!” sheexclaimed, “‘ forgive me fur bein’ so thoughtless. You are all wrought up. You are narvous an’ beat out, completely.” ‘* But happy!” murmured the girl. ‘‘¥You may wal be, fur Garry Kean is saved. Now le’s go home!” She spoke regen once more remembering their position, and Alice did not object. They turned and left the top of Nugget Hill. CHAPTER XII. THE MAN WITH BACKBONE GIVES NOTICE, THE people of Jack’s Delight had something to talk about the following day. They had something to see, also, and .a sensation was caused by the sight of Garry Kean walking calmly through the streets. The story ran in this way: tre A body of roughs had attaeked the jail with the intention of lynching the Man with Back- bone. They would have succeeded, only for a lucky chance. The feeble guard could never have checked them, but in some way English John, the miner, had gained news of their pro- ject, and had secretly gathered a few hardy, onest men to meet them. — A fight had followed in which the rioters were signally worsted, and they had gone off with decimated numbers, humbled and fright- ened. Among the fallen was found Aaron Barney, the owner of the horse alleged to have been stolen by the prisoner. Barney was fatally wounded, and lived only a short time after be was picked up by the victors; but before he died, he made a statement which put matters on a radically new footing. He confessed that the charge against Garry Kean was false in every particular. He de- clared that Kean had hired the team of him in the regular way, but that he had immediately been approached by men who paid him to make a false charge of horse-stealing against the young man. <€oim JOOKS (E ? é i -. é Se —EEEE a — } | ee a ee